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Sunday Stretch: Hermsen not letting arm injury hold him back

Back in 2012, Iowa native B.J. Hermsen had his best professional season on the mound and was named the top minor league pitcher in the organization for the Minnesota Twins.

Three seasons and one Tommy John surgery later, Hermsen is trying to regain his form and health from that magical season as he recovers from a season-ending injury.

"It's just funny that it seems so long ago that I was in that position," Hermsen said.

Hermsen was once an up-and-coming prospect for the Twins who selected the Masonville native in the sixth round of the 2008 draft. The right-hander worked his way up through the minor league ranks and got as high as double-A in 2012 where he won 11 games with New Britain.

Minnesota rewarded him by naming him their minor league pitcher of the year after he went a combined 12-6 with a 2.88 ERA in double-A and Class-A advanced. He even landed on the team's 40-man roster.

Hermsen was shut down for this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on April 8.

"Those first few days after finding out the results and everything, it was pretty tough," Hermsen said.

Now 25-years-old, Hermsen spends his days rehabbing at the Twins' facility in Fort Myers, Fla. Hermsen, who hasn't thrown since March, doesn't anticipate he'll be able to again until around August. In the meantime, he's taking online courses, rehabbing and watching baseball.

"Right now, it's a lot of range of motion stuff to get the range of motion back in my elbow," Hermsen said.

Hermsen said he can still make it to the big leagues.

"I'm definitely still confident as far as being able to come back and do what I do," he said.

AROUND THE HORN

• Former Iowa Cubs and current Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was named National League Rookie of the Month for May. Bryant led major-league rookies with 22 RBI in May while his seven home runs ranked second. Bryant, who ended last season with Iowa, began this season with the team before earning his first big-league promotion.

• Ankeny native and Arkansas right-handed pitcher Keaton McKinney was named to the 2015 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team selected by Collegiate Baseball. In 19 appearances, including 16 starts, McKinney went 6-1 with a 3.21 ERA for Arkansas.

• Former Dowling Catholic, University of Iowa and current Burlington Bees infielder Jake Yacinich was named to the Midwest League's All-Star team. Yacinich was one of five Burlington players selected. The Cedar Rapids Kernels also had five players picked. The Quad Cities River Bandits had four while the Clinton LumberKings had two. The game will be played on June 23 at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

• The Kernels will have a Jurassic World Movie Theme Night on June 12 against the Great Lake Loons. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a free water bottle. The Kernels will also wear special jerseys that will be sold during the game at a silent auction. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the ALS Association-Iowa Chapter. First pitch is 6:35 p.m.

• Not to be outdone, the Quad Cities River Bandits will have a Jurassic Park Night on June 10 against the Lansing Lugnuts. First pitch is 7 p.m.

• It's a bird. It's a plane. It's...another fan. The Bees will host a Superhero Night on June 12 against the South Bend Cubs. Fans are encouraged to wear their favorite superhero themed attire during the game. First pitch is 6:30 p.m.

• Here's a change: River Bandits broadcasters Marco LaNave and Jess Knaster will call the team's June 12 game against the Lugnuts behind Section 6 on the concourse, offering a unique viewpoint. First pitch is 7 p.m.

HIGH HEAT

• If you're a minor-league baseball fan in Iowa, you've heard of Javier Baez of the Iowa Cubs and Nick Gordon of the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Here's another name to know: Stephen Gonsalves. Gonsalves, a left-handed pitcher for the Kernels, was a fourth-round pick by the Twins in 2013 and has owned opposing hitters so far this season. Through his first nine starts, Gonsalves compiled a 6-1 record with a 1.15 ERA. He's allowed just eight runs (seven earned) on 29 hits and only 15 walks in 55 innings. Even crazier? He's struck out 77 hitters.

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Follow Tommy Birch for baseball updates all season long on Twitter at @TommyBirch